The men, women and children of Dundee are being urged to take the fairway to a more active, healthy and enjoyable lifestyle.
Golf Dundee, launched at Camperdown Golf Course on Thursday, aims to inspire the whole community to take up the game that Scotland gave to the world.
The venture involves upgrading the Camperdown and Caird Park 18-hole courses as well as the Caird Park nine-holer and the Camperdown pitch-and-putt.
As well as attracting new generations of players, the investment is aimed at persuading greater numbers of visitors to the city’s public golf courses, especially Camperdown, which is recognised as having the potential to be one of the best parkland courses in Scotland.
The initiative has been launched by Leisure and Culture Dundee, the trust that runs the city’s leisure venues, and one of the factors that prompted it was last year’s population survey conducted by the council.
Active City manager Kevin Gosling said its revelation that only 16% of households in Dundee were involved in organised sports activities or sports club membership highlighted a serious issue.
“It is well known that physical activity leads to better health and better lifestyles, and this has implications for society at large including the health and education services,” he said.
“This made me think how we can get the other 84% of households involved in more active lifestyles for their and their city’s benefit, and how can we do this through the facilities we have in Dundee?
“Golf is a terrific game which people can play throughout their lives. In Dundee we have two full-sized courses and one of them is under-used, one nine-hole and one for pitch-and-putt.
“This provides opportunities for people to take up the game and graduate towards golfing on full-size courses and to keep playing and enjoy it, so that is what the project is all about.”
Golf is being promoted in schools to encourage children to take up the sport, and equipment is being lent free to youngsters who do not have their own clubs.
The ex-ladies European Tour player Karyn Dallas has started a Ladies First coaching programme for women at the Caird Park nine-holer, and plans are afoot to extend tuition sessions.
The condition of the courses is being addressed by the trust securing £500,000 over five years for an impressive fleet of greenkeeping machines dedicated to the courses.
It may take a few seasons to create the carpet-like qualities of Augusta National, but Lord Provost Bob Duncan, a trustee of Leisure and Culture Dundee, said: “With a major investment in greenkeeping equipment and personnel, we’ve no doubt that the courses will improve.
“But it’s equally important to encourage more members of the public to take up the game. With the support of these new teaching programmes, Golf Dundee is offering an ideal route for people of all ages to enjoy this healthy, enjoyable sport.”